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Rafsanjani warns of potential ballot rigging

Iranian dignitary raises alarm over Interior Ministry request for an increase in the number of ballot boxes, hinting that it may lead to ballot rigging, Press TV reported.

Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council, on Wednesday reacted to reports that the Interior Ministry -- which is constitutionally charged with holding the election -- had called on the Guardian Council -- the body tasked with overseeing the election -- to increase the number of ballot boxes for the June 12 presidential election.

"An increase in the number of ballot boxes would raise concerns," Hashemi said, implying that it would affect the health of the election.

Rafsanjani, who also chairs the Assembly of Exerts, cautioned against attempts to dishearten people from taking part in the election.

"They say what guarantees could be offered when people cast their votes, since it is not known whose name will come out of the boxes," Rafsanjani said, but assured the Iranian nation that the Guardian Council will do its utmost to protect the votes.

According to a report in Jomhuriye Eslami, the Guardian Council has refused to accept the request by the ministry to increase the number of the ballot boxes.

The body warned that it must decide on any increase in the number of ballot boxes, saying such a matter is at the discretion of the Guardian Council, the report added.

Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei, a spokesman for the Council, also said on Wednesday that the Guardian Council would safeguard the votes as the body was authorized to monitor the election, according to the Constitution.

Kadkhodaei also warned that the Council would act appropriately should 'character assassination' increases ahead of the election.

"If destructive measures continue to such an extent as to affect the election," he said, the Guardian Council might step in at the final stage to review the authenticity of the election or even decide to void the vote.

Iran will hold its 10th presidential elections on June 12 with four candidates vying for the support of the population, namely incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the country's last prime minister, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, former Majlis speaker Mehdi Karroubi and the former IRGC chief, Mohsen Rezaei.